A VERY Special Project

So...I received a Wade & Butcher Special 5/8 full hollow a couple weeks ago. I was absolutely heart broken when I found a crack in the blade. This was to be my firsth W&B and I was excited for it. Alas, it was not to be. The seller was quick to offer to send a replacement, and he said he had no interest in getting the cracked W&B back, so I held on to it, not really sure what for, but unwilling to just throw it in the trash...

I received a Wade & Butcher Invincible 11/16 as a replacement, and thusly extremely satisfied with my new first Wade & Butcher, my mind started to wander over the cracked blade sitting in the drawer in the bathroom. I was starting to have some ideas...


The crack is just shy of the midpoint of the blade length, and also just shy of the midpoint of the blade width. Truly a disappointment, because ultimately, the razor is worthless like this. Can't fix it, and WAY to big and obtrusive to ignore and shave with. What to do, what to do...

Down the "shop" with Dremel in hand, a selection of grinding bits and sandpaper drums, safety glasses, gloves, and absolutely no idea if I was going to destroy it or make it worth something...

After about 2 hours of grinding, sanding, shaping, smoothing, polishing, and even a little bit of "spine work", I had managed to do the kinds of things I had always wanted to try, but was petrified of ruining a good razor doing it. The cracked Special turned into a Special opportunity...

Back upstairs to the stone, using a standard progression...she WILL get a test shave this evening!






It's far from perfect. The spine work is not symmetrical, and the grinding to remove the crack is less than refined, but dangit if this thing didn't polish up beautifully and turn itself into a very decent little Kamiori-type blade. It actually feels pretty good in hand, and given that I'm a head shaver, the blade is actually just about the size of what is in contact with my scalp throughout a shave, anyhow, so who knows? A test shave tonight, and this just might be a very Special Project...

I figure...worst-case scenario, the small blade will make it a LOT easier to carve out my cheek lines!

Anyhow...feel free to post your opinions, good, bad an otherwise. I like it, and I will find a use for it, but I really am interested in hearing what an unbiased person thinks of the final result...

That's unreal, Chris. The two photos suggest two different blades! Excellent. Can't wait to hear how it shaves.

Very cool sir.

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Great idea since it really could not be fixed any other way. Makes you wonder now about all those really cheap razor at the auction site the have chips out of the end of the blade.

Great idea since it really could not be fixed any other way.  Makes you wonder now about all those really cheap razor at the auction site the have chips out of the end of the blade.

You read my mind!

Awesome job. I love my Dremel.

Well done.

So I couldn;t wait. I went ahead and shaved with it. It was decent. Not exceptional, but I think this is mainly due to how odd it was not having the scales as a balance point, and having such a short contact area. I think with some practice, it could be a really nice shave experience.

2 issues I may have to address...It's a little difficult to handle due to how smooth the tang is. I'm thinking of either wrapping it with nylon or making a sandwich-style handle, like a knife for it...Something to give me a little bit bigger handle and better grip...

The other issue is the spike points. Both the toe and the new heel have fantastically sharp spike points, which look great, but dig in. I have a couple of nicks from one or the other biting in. I think this is also related to the shortness of the blade...I can probably dull them down just a little bit and not lose too much of the aesthetics...

Overall, well worth the effort! For a razor that would have otherwise been trash, I have nothing to complain about!

That's pretty darn cool! Nice job!!

Interesting project Chris! Well done!